You may have seen her as a school-going teenager in last year’s hit, Student of The Year, but actor Alia Bhatt doesn’t feel like a little girl anymore, especially in the acting department.
The 20-year-old says that her next, Imtiaz Ali’s Highway, has made her push herself really
hard. Alia and co-star Randeep Hooda have been shooting for the flick across six states and she’s just back from upper Kashmir, where there’s still snow.

“This film has given me the real experiences of life that I’ve never had. I’ve had a regular life with family, friends, a holiday in London … but I have never had stories to share. Now, I do,” she tells us with excitement writ large on her face.

“My dad (director Mahesh Bhatt) told me, ‘Alia, this film will help you understand emotions that grown-ups have’ and indeed, I’ve pushed myself to limits that I did not know I was capable of,” she adds.

She may have matured as an actor, but what does she think of competition in showbiz? “The competition is tough because our generation of actors are talented, focussed and extremely ambitious. So, if you want to survive, you have to work hard and smart, there’s just no scope for error,” she says.

At heart, Alia remains a regular 20-something who is most excited about the fact that she’s now earning her own money, most of which is spent on shopping for clothes and shoes. “My mom often tells me ‘you’re not spending enough money; there’s lots of your money lying around’,” she chuckles.